New deep water terminal announced for remote islands

It will provide a berth for vessels up to 360m long with a depth of 10m below the ferry berth of Chart Datum, along with 6.5 hectares of land for unloading, storage and industrial uses, says the Stornoway Port Authority.

It will also have a freight ferry berth and a heavy lift slab at the quayside.

Stornoway is on island of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides archipelago, just off the northwest coast of Scotland, and the largest town on the islands.

“Our consultations show a strong demand from the energy, transport and cruise industries to bring larger vessels in Stornoway and for adjoining unloading, processing and storage space,” says the authority, whose chairman, Murdo Murray, signed the £49 million (€58.4 million) contract with civil engineers McLaughlin & Harvey.

“The deep water terminal will open a new gateway to the islands for a wide range of sectors and become a catalyst for significant further development here. It is already attracting high levels of interest from potential customers,” said Murray.

“The development will be a game changer for the local economy and for Scotland’s aspirations to grow our renewables and cruise sectors,” said deputy first minister for Scotland John Swinney, who is also chair of the Stornoway Deep Water Terminal Advisory Board.

“The terminal will enable cruise traffic and expansion of the offshore wind leasing round, as well as providing infrastructure for a range of other potential activities.”